Written based on 4 research studies on PubMed, searched on 11 Nov 2026.
The claim
Posts online say that curcumin (turmeric) helps with retinitis pigmentosa.
Where research stands
We found 4 published papers on curcumin (turmeric) and retinitis pigmentosa. They were published between 2013 and 2026. None of them is a study in people. 1 was a study in animals, and none was only in cells in the lab. 2 papers are reviews that sum up other studies.
- 0In people
- 1In animals
- 0Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Curcumin (turmeric) has been studied for retinitis pigmentosa in animals, not yet in people.
Unproven means: it was only tested in animals or cells, or there is too little or mixed data from people. How we rate claims
What this means for you: Results in animals or in cells often do not hold in people. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- Role of Curcumin in Retinal Diseases-A review.2022 · Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol · Review
- Curcumin, a potential therapeutic candidate for retinal diseases.2013 · Mol Nutr Food Res · Review
- Prenatal Exposure to Curcumin Protects Rod Photoreceptors in a Transgenic Pro23His Swine Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa.2015 · Transl Vis Sci Technol · In animals
- Bromelain and Curcumin Oral Supplementation for Refractory Inherited Retinal Dystrophy-Related Macular Oedema: Changes in Macular Thickness and Visual Acuity over 12 Months.2026 · Pharmaceuticals (Basel) · Other paper
